He's really down and out right now, I believe on pace to score just 28 goals. I guess you could pinpoint the Olympics as the point where his game started to slip a bit, but he's been completely different this year.

Seems to be little worry about him bouncing back, but I never thought he'd ever struggle like this for so long.

The Best Of BCHankthaTank- Squirrels, they hate to be thrown. / Why is the magical unicorn named Brian... Jedi - I just downloaded the "kids" book, "Go the F--k to Sleep" as narrated by Samuel L. Jackson on my kindle. I am now ready to be a daddy. / *Checks Router* No, I'm positive I didn't hit the "Wings Defense Sucks" button. Electrophile - I'm just glad the Wings were able to win despite the Curse of Brian. ACallToArms - I think Trey needs to put something about payroll tax and deferred income in his sig... Edicius- I'd rather [have] a soundbite of me saying "I like (man sausage)" rather than "I like Crosby".

At this point, Stamkos and Crosby are both better pure goal scorers than him. That was supposed to be something Crosby would never have over Ovechkin, yet it has happened in the last few years.

That whole team has slipped a little, but for a guy that plays with so much passion and takes so many shots, it's really surprising that he's had so few goals.

Its definitely surprising but I do think he will bounce back. He is one of, if not the, most talented hockey players in the world, but his drive and work ethic do not even come close when compared with Crosby and other players. He needs to stop expecting things and start working for them... and to WANT to work for them.

I don't think Bruce is the right coach for him, and I could easily see him gone after this year if they disappoint in the playoffs again. And from the glimpses I saw of 24/7, Ovechkin seems like a pretty piss poor captain.

It's just a matter of the team trying to change styles to something more suited to playoff hockey (defense first).

The new system is really disrupting the offensive production of Ovy and Green. There's nothing wrong with them, they're just having a tougher time hitting the score sheet like they used to with these new defensive priorities in mind.

So yes, a new coach would have a different style, and this would certainly change the way these guys produce offensively.

It's just a matter of the team trying to change styles to something more suited to playoff hockey (defense first).

The new system is really disrupting the offensive production of Ovy and Green. There's nothing wrong with them, they're just having a tougher time hitting the score sheet like they used to with these new defensive priorities in mind.

So yes, a new coach would have a different style, and this would certainly change the way these guys produce offensively.

Put Datsyuk in the Caps old system and see how many points he puts up. I honestly believe Datsyuk and Crosby are the two most dominant players in the NHL. Not many others really come close. And this is not meant to stir up a Crosby debate, as much as we all hate him its a fact he is one of the best and deep down inside we all know its true. If Ovechkin can not produce in a system that puts an ounce of effort in to their defensive game it just shows that he does not stack up to Datsyuk and Crosby.

Put Datsyuk in the Caps old system and see how many points he puts up. I honestly believe Datsyuk and Crosby are the two most dominant players in the NHL. Not many others really come close. And this is not meant to stir up a Crosby debate, as much as we all hate him its a fact he is one of the best and deep down inside we all know its true. If Ovechkin can not produce in a system that puts an ounce of effort in to their defensive game it just shows that he does not stack up to Datsyuk and Crosby.

He has one bad year and everyone is all over him, the whole team is struggling obviously something is either wrong with the system or the coach. Next year Ovechkin will score 50 goals again and this will all be forgot about.

He has one bad year and everyone is all over him, the whole team is struggling obviously something is either wrong with the system or the coach. Next year Ovechkin will score 50 goals again and this will all be forgot about.

i think your statement will prove to be true. but I just love to see ovie and the caps team struggle because i like to shove it down my friends throat. He all of a sudden in the last 3 years has been a "huge" caps fan.

Ovechkin is done for this year I think. He might hit 35 goals, but even he'll be disappointed with that. He's been figured out, he can't get open, everyone knows hes going to shoot. He always shoots. He'll come back next year with 50 goals. But in general, the Capitals suck. That Fleishmann trade was a bad idea!

He also does the same move over and over again. Defensemen see through it now. Ovechkin is not a top3 forward, let alone player, this season.

Still tied for 11th in points, and considering there are 90 top 3 forwards in the league, I would say while he's not a top 3 player this season, to say he's not a top 3 forward is still pretty ridiculous.

Still tied for 11th in points, and considering there are 90 top 3 forwards in the league, I would say while he's not a top 3 player this season, to say he's not a top 3 forward is still pretty ridiculous.

I haven't seen much of the Caps play this season, but it sounds like it's more a team struggling than it is some new commitment to defense.

As for Ovie, you can bet he'll be back. I wouldn't say the same for Boudreau though.

This. And Ovie will certainly bounce back, maybe even this season - all it takes is a month-long hot streak and he'll be challenging at the top again. He would have to go on one hell of a spree to come first but at least he might get "respectable" numbers. On the other hand, he might want to save it for the play-offs...